A former bodyguard of Sean Combs, Joseph Sherman, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Thalia Graves, the woman who accused Combs of raping her in 2001. In the lawsuit, filed on Friday, Sherman claims that he never met Graves and that her allegations are “utterly and entirely false.”
Graves first made the rape accusation against Combs in a 2017 interview with the Los Angeles Times. She claimed that Combs, also known as P. Diddy, had raped her at a party in his New York City apartment in 2001. Combs has denied the allegations and no charges were ever filed against him.
In his lawsuit, Sherman states that he was working as a bodyguard for Combs in 2001 and that he never met Graves. He also claims that Graves’ allegations have caused him “irreparable harm” and have damaged his reputation and career.
Sherman’s lawyer, Mark Jay Heller, stated that Graves’ accusations have caused Sherman “great emotional distress and embarrassment.” He also added that the lawsuit is not about money, but rather about clearing Sherman’s name and reputation.
Graves has yet to respond to the lawsuit. However, in a statement to the Los Angeles Times, she stood by her allegations and stated that she is “not afraid to speak the truth.”
This is not the first time that Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct. In 1999, he was arrested and charged with assault after an incident at a New York City nightclub. He was later acquitted of all charges.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to hold powerful men accountable for their actions, especially in cases of sexual assault and harassment. However, it is important to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and that false accusations can also have serious consequences.
The outcome of this lawsuit remains to be seen, but it serves as a reminder to always consider all sides of a story before passing judgment.
